Austin police detectives are investigating reports of the passing of counterfeit bills.

Seven incidents between May 1 through 6 attracted increased attention to the problem.

The bills have been passed at Danny's Place, Budget Oil Company, Northern Beverage Company and other businesses, Capt. Curt Rude said.

"The bills feel different to the touch," Rude said. "We're asking merchants and their employees to be more alert to the possibility the bills they accept may be counterfeit."

Mower County Sheriff Terese Amazi concurred.

"We've seen more passed in the county and all we can do is ask the businesses to have their employees be more alert to what they're getting," she said.

Unless the quantity of counterfeit bills passed is large enough, the U.S. Treasury Department's Secret Service leaves investigation and prosecution to local authorities.

Investigators believe the rash of fake $20 bills is the work of an individual or individuals using a computer scanner.

Later this summer, multi-colored $20 bills will be issued by the U.S. government to help thwart the counterfeiting.

Also plaguing the authorities are the number of "copycat" counterfeiters such as the juveniles who attempted to use fake $20 and $1 bills at the Ellis Middle School food service cafeteria.

Also, a fake $100 bill was accepted at the Austin Dairy Queen restaurant.

The favorite denomination for counterfeiters, thought, is the $20 bill, according to law enforcement.

Police are also frustrated by the lack of cooperation from local lending institutions, Rude said.

The police captain said the cooperation is welcome and needed in investigating all incidents involving criminal acts such as counterfeit or check-forging.

In one incident, a local bank initially refused to turn over a surveillance tape when a victim reported his income tax refund check was forged and cashed.

"When we threatened to issue search warrants from here to Houston, Texas, for the information we needed, they agreed to cooperate," Rude said.

For more information on how to help authorities thwart such crimes, contact the Austin-Mower County Law Enforcement Center

at 437-9400.

Police: Level II sex offender released, moves to Austin

Austin police are alerting the community to a Level II sex offender's release.

Benjamin James Alverson, 27, moved into a residence in the 2000 block of Fifth Avenue NE today, according to the Austin Police Department,

According to Minnesota law, the police department must notify the community of the release.

The offender has a criminal record of a history of sexual contact with juvenile females (one age 13 and the other age 14) The offender and the victims were acquaintances.

The fact sheet describes Alverson as a white male, 5 feet 10 inches, 152 pounds, medium build, hazel eyes and brown hair.

He is not wanted by police and has served his sentence. The crimes he was found guilty of committing were investigated by the Rochester Police Department.

Local police plan to notify schools, neighbors and the Austin Parks, Recreation and Forestry Department in addition to the media, Capt. Curt Rude said.

Presently, there are no Level III sex offenders residing in Austin. Of the six Level II offenders who were living in Austin, three have since moved.

Austin police also confirmed a registered sex offender, apprehended earlier this week and currently being held in the Hennepin County Jail, no longer resides at the Murphy Creek housing developing north of Elmhurst Addition.

That is where the alleged acts with minor children involving the defendant occurred.

Murphy's Creek residents had contacted authorities about the man's presence at a town home in the development north of Mapleview.

The Minnesota statute governing convicted criminal sex offenders directs citizens' inquiries to the Austin Police Department, which is obligated by law to provide useful information (437-9400).

Lee Bonroden can be reached at 434-2232 or by e-mail at lee.bonorden@austindailyherald.com